Takoma

(Est. 1959) Takoma Records takes its name from the hometown of its co-founder, guitarist John Fahey, who was born and raised in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland. By applying the finger-picking techniques of traditional blues and country steel-string guitar music to his own strikingly original compositions, Fahey spawned a new genre of acoustic American music. In 1959, he launched Takoma Records with partner ED Denson, and they became instrumental in spreading the new music to audiences worldwide. Besides Fahey, the label's roster included such fellow guitar innovators as Robbie Basho, Peter Lang, and Leo Kottke, in addition to legendary Mississippi Delta bluesman Bukka White. The Takoma catalog was purchased in 1995 by Fantasy, Inc., adding to the Berkeley company's already substantial holdings of high-quality roots-based music.

TAKOMA FEATURED ARTISTS

Acoustic guitarist John Fahey (1939-2001) was impossible to classify. His eclectic music included traditional-sounding folk pieces, Indian ragas, blues, and unpredictable modern works, not fitting securely into any specific category but somehow always sounding personal.